Locking device for outboard motors



June 12, 1956 F. 5 FRdsT LOCKING DEVICE FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS Filed Sept. 18, 1952 United States Patent LOCKING DEVICE FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS Frank E. Frost, Inglewood, Calif.

Application September 18, 1952, Serial No. 310,212

1 Claim. (Cl. 70-232) This invention relates to a locking device for outboard motors and it is an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind including a member flexibly anchored to the boat and which has releasable securement to the usual motor clamping screws.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind which provides an effective medium to prevent unauthorized removing of the motor and also to prevent loss of the motor during operation.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved locking device for outboard motors whereby certain advantages are attained as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order that my invention may be better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section illustrating in applied position a locking device constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a view partly in front elevation and partly in section of the device as shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view in elevation with portions broken away of the device as herein comprised unapplied with the members thereof in a spread or separated adjustment; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view partly in section and partly in elevation showing the device in holding engagement with a clamping screw for the motor.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawing M denotes a conventional type of outboard motor having associated therewith the holding brackets 1 to engage over the stern board B of a boat. These brackets 1 have threaded therethrough the usual clamping screws 2 which engage the stern board B to hold the motor M in place.

Ordinarily the screws 2 can be readily released from the board B by an unauthorized person or when the motor is operating the resultant vibration may loosen the screws 2. To prevent this the locking device D is provided.

As herein comprised the locking device D comprises two elongated channel members 3 and 4 of equal lengths and having their faces opposed. These members 3 and 4 are substantially in duplicate as to dimensions and designs and having their ends closed. The butting portions of adjacent end walls a are hingedly connected, as at 5, so that the members 3 and 4 may have relative swinging movement,

2,749,738 Patented June 12, 1956 When the members 3 and 4 are in closed relation the free longitudinal edges of the side walls b are in close contact. A flange b of one member, as 3, is provided with the spaced notches 6 which register, when the members 3 and 4 are closed with the similar space notches 7 in the opposed flange b of the member 4.

The notches 6 and 7 are spaced a distance equal to the spacing of the screws 2 so that said screws 2 outwardly of the brackets 1 may be snugly received within the registering notches 6 and 7 when the members 3 and 4 are closed with the screws 2 extending therebetween.

The walls 8 of the members 3 and 4 remote from the end walls a have extending outwardly from their free marginal portions the lips or flanges 9 which also have close contact when the members 3 and 4 are closed. These lips or flanges 9 have openings 11 for the insertion therethrough of the shackle 16 of the lock 12 whereby the members 3 and 4 are held against opening or separating movement by an unauthrozied person.

When the device D is applied to the screws 2 the wing heads 1?- carried by the screws 2 are housed between the members 3 and 4 whereby the device D is prevented from being pulled forwardly off of the screws 2 and the wing heads 14 are confined against access.

The member 3 substantially midway its end has rigid therewith an outstanding loop member 15 with which is engaged an extremity of a flexible member 16 herein disclosed as a chain. The opposite or outer extremity of this flexible member 16 is secured to a loop member 17 rigidly secured to the inner face of the stern board B. This flexible member prevents loss of the motor M in the event the screws 2 are ineffective in holding the motor M in place.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a locking device for outboard motors constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated.

I claim:

A locking device for an outboard motor having a pair of spaced winged clamping screws, said device comprising two elongate members of U-channel cross-section having the ends of the channels closed, said members being juxtaposed with the open sides of the same opposed when the device is in use, a hinge coupling between two adjacent ends of the bars, flanges extending from the other two ends and having aligned apertures for the reception of a locking means, said members having the edges of the sides of the channels provided with matching transverse semi-circular recesses to receive the shanks of said screws between and extending entirely across the members, a staple carried by one of said members, a securing chain attached at one end to the staple, and an attaching plate secured to the other end of the chain and adapted to be secured to the wall of the boat on which the motor is mounted.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,154,389 Fogalsang Sept. 21, 1915 1,221,354 Mitchell Apr. 3, 1917 1,919,701 Morreale et al. July 25, 1933 2,279,006 McWalters Apr. 7, 1942 

